A day in the life...

[dollywobbler]

Thought I'd started the day well. The 2CV was in the garage, so no window scraping for me this morning. Off we went to work, but the joys of icy roads made it a real challenge. I'm very glad that my Dad taught me how to cadence brake as I almost came a cropper twice. Manual ABS FTW!But as I approached Peterborough, the roads just seized up. I was forced onto main routes due to flooding (yesterday, I baled out of a wading expedition in the Subaru after seeing a BMW 1 series stuck ahead of me - I'm afraid I may have laughed...)After an hour, I'd moved about a mile. The coil was overheating and the tickover was getting worryingly erratic. I must do something about that having already conked out in a major jam on the A1 just after New Year. I've seen a convoy of recovery trucks removing about half a dozen bruised motors (thankfully nothing shite). Then my wife calls to say that the Subaru won't start. Great. The Mini was already broken so out of three cars, only one was working. And it wasn't getting anywhere fast. I gave up on the commute and headed back home, arriving over two hours after I left the house. At least the ice had melted.Quick result - some confusion over the steering lock/immobiliser meant that the Subaru wasn't knackered at all. But my wife didn't trust it still and opted to go to work in my 2CV. She works a mere 6 miles away from home rather than my 25. I decided that now it was mid-morning, there wasn't much point trying to get back to Peterborough again, so I booked the day off.This gave a chance to try and fix the Mini, but it's interesting trying to fix a car when it's so icy on the ground that you can barely stand up. However, I managed to remain upright long enough to deduce that the dizzy cap was FUBARd inside. Probably because the cap has been off more than an alcy's bottle of Peach Schnapps recently as we battled various point related maladies. So, into the now-working Subaru and into town to buy a new cap. Get carried away in the shop and end up buying £27 worth of stuff I arguably didn't need but meh. Women do it. Why can't I?Back to the Mini, fit the cap and hoorah! Straight into life. Still doesn't sound quite right so I head off to find a mate with a strobe. A little tweaking and by jove! This Mini is a rocket! (well, ok, it's only a 998cc, but it felt a lot better!). Meet the wife for lunch and swap cars.Driving back in the 2CV, I become nervous about how the engine is starting to sound like someone rolling a metal dustbin full of saucepans down a stony hill. Must get around to rebuilding the engine I ripped out before Christmas!Oh well. S'pose it hasn't been a bad day after a very awful start!

[Guest]

We missed most of the fun here, it snowed for like two half-days and that's been it. Must admit on the one day the roads were dodgy enough to suspend the buses I did feel smugtastic on the mountain bike powering past miles of queued traffic.Dont think I'd find the enthusiasm to get the tools out and fix something in the driveway tho, not until the tempertaure was up to a good ten degrees above zero.

[dollywobbler]

Must admit, changing a dizzy cap is about as far as I'm willing to go when it's this cold! Though some winter-time tinkering is always a necessity it seems. Well, with my motors anyway!

[nigel bickle]

I've a nice(ish)Lada sitting outside mid clutch circuit bleed. Literally.And there its sat for a week-and will remain till it flamin; warms up!

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

I'm trying to paint my car in the garden. No chance.

[lovejoy]

Nigel ! c'mon, don't be a wimp ! here's a large helping of sunshine to help you solve that bleedin LLlada clutch ...

[AXrescuer]

Looks like they didn't have a leg to stand on.

[nigel bickle]

Ta Chris-no need to 'rub it in'.

[seth]

What did you do after lunch Dolly?

 

I spent all day warming myself by the mig.

 

[dollywobbler]

Slept mainly! Then went out to a 2CV meeting in the evening. In the Subaru. Sometimes, rapid and warm wins! (or am I just getting old and boring?).